THE US IS considering whether war crimes charges can be brought against Syria’s President Assad over the crackdown on anti-government protests as the unrest which broke out several weeks ago continues in the country.

President Assad took power in 2000 after his father’s death and many who hoped he would transform his father’s brutal dictatorship into a modern state of Syria have been proven disappointed.

Senior White House officials have confirmed that the US is also considering economic sanctions against Syria, according to VOA News.

Today, Syrian troops swept into a the village of Bdama  near the Turkish border, as government forces continue their operations in the northwest. Meanwhile, the group which documents anti-government protests said that 19 people were killed during yesterday’s protests.

The Department of Foreign Affairs advises against all travel to Syria at the moment and any Irish citizen who is in Syria “without a pressing need” to stay there should consider leaving. Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office has warned all Britons to leaveSyria immediately due to the ongoing unrest.

Jolie visit

US actress and UN goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie visited Syrian refugees who have fled to Turkey at one of three emergency camps set up close to the Syrian border. Around 1,700 people have sought refuge at the camp Jolie visited yesterday.

Jolie arrived in a private jet carrying boxes of toys and spoke to refugees through an interpreter.

The actress praised the Turkish government for allowing people to travel freely to the refugees camp and the Red Crescent for providing emergency assistance to the 10,000 who have fled the violence in Syria.

[caption id="attachment_158595" align="alignnone" width="344" caption="Jolie waves after her visit to the camp in Turkey. (Pic: AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)"][/caption]

- Additional reporting by the AP

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